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International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique, numerical commercial book identifier, based upon the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN) code created in the UK by the booksellers and stationers W.H. Smith and others in 1966.The 10-digit International Standard Book Number (ISBN) format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization and published as an international standard, ISO 2108, in 1970. (However, the 9-digit SBN code was used in the UK until 1974.) Currently, the ISO TC 46/SC 9 is responsible for the standard.Since 1 January 2007, International Standard Book Numbers have been of 13 digits, compatible with Bookland EAN-13s.An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation (except reprintings) of a book. The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned after January 1, 2007, and 10 digits long if assigned before 2007.
The Development of ISBN
In the mid-1960s as computer technology began to become an important part of trade, publishers began implementing their own, in-house, numbering systems in order to do business efficiently with their trading partners.Two such systems introduced at that time were those of United Kingdom publisher J Whitaker & Sons Ltd of London, from 1967 and that of R R Bowker in the USA, of 1968.In the United Kingdom at that time, the major book wholesaler and retailer W H Smith moved into new computer-controlled facilities, whose support was a major influence in the fledgling numbering systems.The help of the Publishers Association was sought to help develop a system with the intention of rationalising the numerous disparate systems that were being implemented. The International Standards Organisation (ISO) asked the British Standards Institute to become the secretariat for an international working party. From this, the ISO developed ISO Technical Committee 46 on Information and Documentation to develop the United Kingdom system for international usage.1970s
Work in 1968 and 1969 resulted, in 1972, in the creation of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) as the first edition of ISO standard 2108.1990s
In 1978 the second edition of the standard came into being, and in 1992 the third edition was published. The first through to the third editions of the standard used a 10-digit ISBN. For details of how the 10-digit ISBN works, see the Anatomy of a 10-digit ISBN page.2000s
The fourth edition was published in May, 2005. It made the major revision of changing the ISBN from a 10-digit identifier to one of 13 digits. The main reason for the change was to increase the numbering capacity of the system, which was forecast to run out of numbers for new books in the coming years. From 1st January 2007 all ISBNs issued will conform to the new 13-digit standard. For details of how the new 13-digit system works, seem the Anatomy of a 13-digit ISBN page. At the same time, the ISBN system has merged with the universal product code system know as EAN.
The Importance of ISBN
ISBN is the key of the book classifying system,that is the key of copyright management and sale controlling as well.When ISBN is appear,it spread quickly.Just because of the benefit for the bookman and the bookseller. Incarnate:ISBN is a code which can be read by computer.And it is still same from producing to issuing and sale.It make a great effect on the book issue system.Because of it a lot of the branch process of book feild is predigestion.At the same time,ISBN make a great contribution to the library,it serve for the flow and use of the book information and provide book controlling for the country,it make more efficiency for the book market,it can certain of the book and the publisher.There is a custom in book field,they named ISBN as StockNumber,because it use widely in the book management.
Why need ISBN change?
Before the constructure of ISBN-10 is compose by 4 parts,there are:Group,Publisher,Title and Check digit.ISBN manage as different countries,areas,language area and other sociation group.Because of the imbalance of the publisher,so that in some developed countries the ISBN is hard up.So we must change it bofore it use out.